IP Library Granted Patent US 11,717,054
Granted Patent B2
US 11,717,054 · App. 16/162,701 · Granted Aug 8, 2023

Footwear including textile element

Inventors: Jason Berns (Baltimore, MD); Julian Ellis (Nottingham, GB); Tom Luedecke (Portland, OR); Thomas White (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
A43B23/026A43B1/04A43B7/14A43B7/20A43B23/023A43B23/0205A43B23/025A43B23/027A43B23/028A43B23/0215A43B23/0225A43B23/0265A43B23/042A43B23/087A43B23/17D05C17/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,717,054
App. No.
16/162,701
Granted
Aug 8, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.

Claims (39)

1. A method of forming an article of footwear, the method comprising:

forming an upper having a lateral portion, a medial portion and a vamp, the upper formed by:

securing a temporary substrate to a support,

connecting a first crossing yarn to the temporary substrate by positioning a first strand along a first side of the temporary substrate, positioning a second strand along a second side of the temporary substrate and piercing the temporary substrate to interlock the first strand with the second strand at selected locations along a length of the first crossing yarn,

connecting a second crossing yarn to the temporary substrate by positioning a first strand along the first side of the temporary substrate, positioning a second strand along the second side of the temporary substrate and piercing the temporary substrate to interlock the first strand with the second strand at selected locations along a length of the second crossing yarn, wherein the first crossing yarn, the second crossing yarn, or both the first and second crossing yarns include a fusible strand that softens when exposed to heat of a predetermined temperature and hardens upon cooling,

removing the temporary substrate to form a self-supporting textile including the lateral upper portion, medial upper portion and the vamp, and

applying heat to the upper to soften the fusible strand; and

coupling the upper to a sole structure to form the article of footwear;

wherein:

each interlocked first stand and second strand defines a stitch,

the first crossing yarn includes a first stitch adjacent a second stitch, and

a distance between the first stitch and the second stitch is less than five mm.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting the second crossing yarn further comprises:

orienting the first strand of the second crossing yarn such that the first strand of the second crossing yarn passes over the first strand of the first crossing yarn, and

orienting the second strand of the second crossing yarn such that the second strand of the second crossing yarn passes over the second strand of the first crossing yarn.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the first crossing yarn extends along a first direction to define a first length;

the second crossing yarn extends in a second direction to define a second length; and

the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first stitch and the second stitch is less than 3.5 mm.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing an element between the first strand and the second strand of the first crossing yarn by positioning the element directly on the first side of the temporary substrate prior to connecting the first crossing yarn to the temporary substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising encapsulating an element within a channel formed into the upper by embroidering a plurality of channel strands in side-by-side relation, each channel strand of the plurality of channel strands including secured ends positioned along lateral sides of the element and further being unsecured between the secured ends.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

securing the self-supporting textile element to a textile web to form a composite textile.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the substrate comprises dissolving the temporary substrate with a dissolving agent.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a compression element consisting of a foam material.

10. A method of forming an article of footwear, the method comprising:

forming an embroidered upper component including a lace eyelet by embroidering a plurality of yarn layers onto a dissolvable substrate, wherein each layer of the plurality of layers comprises a plurality of crossing yarns, each crossing yarn of the plurality of crossing yarns including a first strand and a second strand interlocked via a plurality of stitches at selected locations along a length of the crossing yarn, wherein the first stand and the second strand of plurality of crossing yarns comprises fusible strands and nonfusible strands, the fusible strands softening at a predetermined temperature;

positioning a structural element within the layers of crossing yarns, wherein the structural element comprises a strand having a tensile strength of at least 1000 MPa;

dissolving the substrate;

after dissolution, applying heat to the crossing yarns effective to soften the fusible strands;

discontinuing heat to permit the softened strands to harden, thereby fusing crossing yarns;

incorporating the embroidered upper component into an article of footwear; and

encapsulating the structural element within a channel by embroidering a plurality of channel strands in side-by-side relation, each channel strand including secured ends positioned along lateral sides of the element and further being unsecured between the secured ends.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more crossing yarns of the plurality of crossing yarns forms the lace eyelet.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the structural element comprises:

orienting the structural element along a stitch of the plurality of stitches such that the stitch passes through the structural element.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the structural element comprises:

orienting the structural element such that the structural element is positioned between adjacent stitches.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2023
From: BERNS, JASON; ELLIS, JULIAN; LUEDECKE, TOM; WHITE, THOMAS
To: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
Reel/Frame 063464/0063 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2020
From: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052654/0756 →